ENRICHING COLEGE LIFE

AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE

As an Academy, Salford City Academy is allowed to take small steps away from the national curriculum to provide extracurricular tailored learning for pupils, which prepares them for life after the final bell.  The Sixth Form’s Enrichment Programme is a prime example of this, which through 5 core units, exposes students to a plethora of life experiences which can help them decide their future career and equip them with the skills needed to perform well. 

Our specialist facilities give students the opportunity to participate in a wide range of pursuits and our organised field trips help students to broaden their horizons beyond the school gates and the area as a whole.  Enrichment is split into 5 core units – Culture, Education, Sport, Work Experience and Activity Leadership – and below are some testimonials from pupils who have taken part in its activities. 

From basketball to skiing and climbing to self defence classes, there is little wonder why SCA Sixth Formers thoroughly enjoy sport enrichment. These fantastic opportunities offer students a more fulfilled and rounded education and all at no expense to themselves! In their most recent outing sport students went to the UK’s premier snow sports centre of excellence Chill Factor-e.

The eagerly awaited trip provided students with the opportunity to kit themselves out with the latest winter clothing and take to the UK’s finest indoor slopes.   Laura Smart was one of many students who revelled in the snowy experience.

She said: “Chill Factor-e was my favourite enrichment exercise. Sliding on the mats down the massive luge slide was fantastic. I couldn’t believe how fast it was, it really topped off the day for me.”  

Chill Factor-e School Organiser, Sarah Kershaw helps to set up links between schools and colleges, giving large classes the opportunity to come down and have a great day out. She said: “We create links between ourselves and local schools and colleges because young people love taking to the slopes. It’s a healthy environment for both the body and the mind.”  “We hope to build on our relationship with the Academy so more pupils can gain from the Chill Factor-e experience,” Added Sarah.  

SIXTH FORM SCHEME OFFERS SUPPORT TO SMOKING STUDENTS

 At Salford City Academy student health is a top priority. At exam times emotions get strained so we regularly check to see if students are coping well but it doesn’t stop their as their physical health is also of major concern. Smoking is a killer, and with 12% of young people in the borough of Salford regularly smoking we know it is a problem that affects some of our students.

We want our students to go on to lead long and prosperous lives but know that if they smoke now it will lead to poor health in later life.  Sixth Form Support Officer, Charlotte Bradshaw knows that only too well and since beginning work six months ago has worked tirelessly to put in place an approachable support network that helps students firstly admit they have a problem before offering them the correct support and advice. 

 “From talking to students who smoke I became aware that a large proportion wanted to quit but didn’t know what to do,” said Charlotte. “I decided to contact the NHS Quit Smoking scheme for guidance and was amazed at the amount of information available.”  

After training to become an Intermediate Intervention Advisor, Charlotte was put in touch with Salford PCT. The solid relationship she has struck up with the local health authority has helped her set up the Sixth Form’s first smoking support scheme.  

“Salford PCT has been fantastic. The session their advisors attended was very informative and for many of the students it brought their problems out in the open. Without a problem there is no solution so this first step is crucial to the success of my work.”  

As part of Charlotte’s role as an Intervention Advisor she can now provide students with relevant information, offer advice, hold group or one-to-one meetings and prescribe nicotine replacement therapies such as gums, patches, inhalers, tablets, lozenges, and sprays.  

“I’m pleased with the way it is going. The pupils who do smoke really appreciate the help and those who don’t are being very supportive. If this level of commitment and interest carries on, we will certainly see improvements in student health.” added Charlotte. For more information visit http://www.salford-pct.nhs.uk/SmokingCessation.asp or speak to Charlotte at the Sixth Form office.